You and I have watched a lot of Celtic away from home in the Champions League; we know what to expect. Stick to your task, clear the ball long, tackle hard and exploit set-pieces as best we can. That’s been the plan for 27 away games. 25 of them ended in defeat.
Away game 28, in Barcelona, fell apart at the seams, but last night in Manchester built on the progress in Monchengladbach. From nowhere, Celtic have gone two unbeaten away from home in this tournament.
It wasn’t just the result (in either game) we had more attempts at goal, more attempts on target, we passed with speed and precision under pressure. City caught us on the break to score, and could have added another, on the break, but we had the better of the chances in both halves. Moussa Dembele, Gary Mackay-Steven and Leigh Griffiths will all feel they should have scored.
Jozo Simunovic and Erik Sviatchenko again proved they can operate at Champions League level. The difference in central defence since last year, when one or other of them was unavailable, is beyond credible.
The night was another success for Stuart Armstrong, who built on a transformational visit to Motherwell on Saturday. James Forrest took on and beat three players to setup Dembele, but James fell to a familiar foe and retired injured.
Gary Mackay-Steven, playing his first senior game in over eight months, looked exhausted after his first sprint. There are no shortcuts to match fitness. That chance, when he was clean through with Caballero to beat, will no doubt haunt the player, but he delivered a performance reminiscent of the one he gave in the San Siro two years ago, before being sacrificed. As though alchemy is at work, Celtic have squad-fillers from earlier times looking the part at the highest level.
I had a notion that it wouldn’t be too bad if Patrick Roberts had an anonymous game. That lasted all of four minutes, when he waltzed into the Manchester City box to open the scoring. Did he do enough to convince Pep Guardiola that he’ll be needed in the City squad next season when his loan to Celtic ends? Probably not. That’s the way of it at Manchester City. They will spend >£100m between now and 1 September; Patrick will go the way of Jason Denayer.
Bring on Partick Thistle.
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I think it was yorkbhoy who said it last night that our retention of the ball is the difference this season in europe- it’s been excellent and the willingness to pass in front of a player or a couple of yards either side has been noticeable and players then move for the receiver
Big Jimmy
Quite the contrary, the Stewards and the polis probably saved the Celtic fans from further injury at the hands of the more tribalistic elements of the Man City support. Also all day on the swally kind of gives you a false sense of security and somewhat dims the senses when it comes to your actions amongst opposition fans.
As for UEFA action,may be related to the green smoke bomb let off at the goal and the actions of some escorted fans who tried to rush the turnstiles before the game started
Re biased/distorted reporting by BBC if we could get 100, or more, to make formal complaints, things might start to change :
BBC Complaints
PO Box 1922
DARLINGTON
DL3 0UR. TEL: 03700 100 222.
HH
The home game v St. Johnstone due on Tuesday, 24 January now moved to Wednesday, 25th. Nae Burns Suppers and standing on tables for the “Star of Rabbie Burns” then. HH
I was lucky enough to get some corporate tickets for the game last night in the ‘official neutral’ area for guests of Uefa. No colours allowed but after 4 minutes we all knew who was who as did the Man City fans around us.
Some of them did get a touch upset at us celebrating but a swift exchange of banter put them in their place. There was a bit of pushing and shoving during the light show but not enough to be bothered about.
I did tell the City fans around us that we hadn’t come to’ watch’ our team we had come to ‘support’ them, there is a difference.
JJ article.
Cheers Bhoys, thanks .
I’m not with you on that, An Dun: Okay there’s topicality about child abuse allegations.
But there was also a judgement call made at BBC Shortbread (which is, by the way, merely borrowing the story from BBC Norniron) on the importance to be granted to this story and the headline to use.
Going with a headline and top story of ‘Ex-Celtic youth coach in sex-abuse probe’ and giving it prominence ahead of the other stories I mentioned is (in my paranoid mind) clearly intended to discredit Celtic.
But hey, ho: their team’s gone down the lavvy and its replacement is set to do the same …
VIP
MICKBHOY 1888,
Those stewards had NO Right being on the swally all day before signing on to work !
HH
I’m also of the option that in recent games Moussa hasn’t been at his best, however I believe that I can safely predict that DemPELE will be back on the goal trail very soon !
HH
And no, I’m not relative of his !
Strange comment there from Brendan in that he doesn’t know if Moussa will be at Celtic beyond this season, kinda contradicts the players own view that he is here for sevral years, has something changed?
The SMSM are aye quick to report any misdemeanours from Celtic fans
“crowd disturbances in Manchester”, etc etc
They were loathe to comment on Manchester 2008 (?) until they couldn’t control the TSUNAMI of mayhem !
Hell mend them !!!
a wee clip from a city fan and he looks as though he is enjoying the singing- there is one city fan filmed at the game obviously more interested in the Celtic support in a come on then style and a smoke bomb is let off after the main crowd has dispersed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOkMHgbF-RI
Oh can anyone tell me why the main news is about an ex Celtic coach when I believe the guy also coached for Falkirk and Hibs amongst others?
DESSYBHOY. If Celtic get offerred say 30 million for Dembele in January from the money bags English Clubs they will sell Dembele and quite right in my opinion. It would be a record income for us and help us to improve the team.Dembele is a young player who is not quite the finished article and at this minute in time I believe Sparky is the better striker. H.H.
JFH
Why the sudden depature from the player being happy to stay for several years, he is on a four year deal, something is in the pipeline by the sound of it, sad he could have helped us move forward in Europe.
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 2:27 PM
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 7th December 2016 2:00 pm
I don’t disagree with what you are saying; IMHO many are still sung but inappropriate in modern context.
What would be use is to have a debate about what is seen to be acceptable and what is unacceptable. Interestingly, BOTOB and ROH have recently been kicked out when charges have been brought under OBaF Act.
Personally I can see (historically) a place for BOTOB, Broad Black Brimmer, Irish Soldier Laddie and The Soldier Song. I fully understand and agree why songs such as ROH and Kieran McAnespie are contextually inappropriate now. For the same reason I have no problem with them singing Derry’s Walls or The Sash but The Billy Boys and The Famine Song are not appropriate.
Its an open debate and it will be one that no doubt rolls on!
———————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Sorry but I don’t see why the huns should not be able to sing The Billy Boys or the Famine Song. I for one am not offended by their songs because I don’t let it get to me. If they want to wallow in sectarian and anti-Irish bigotry in full view of the rest of the world then let them. Hell mend them, they are the scum of the earth and I am ok with them proving that beyond all reasonable doubt.
DESSYBHOY. I believe money talks and as there is no offer for the player or huge salary offerred to him at the moment he has no decision to make. If and when offers come in that will be different and he will have a serious decision to make but you can bet he will be under real pressure from the offerring club his own agent and probably Celtic as well mind you thats just my opinion. H.H.
M6bhoy on 7th December 2016 6:13 pm
Pretty much how I see things.
HH
Braw
I trust you had a decent Feliz Cumpleanos pressie yesterday :-)
Braw
HH
M6bhoy- sorry but the dobbers behaviour is expected and accepted in Scotland. Contrast Celtic twice being censored for sectarian singing by police match commanders and Sevco’s weekly bigotfest being regularly ignored. It is ignored by the polis, the SFA, the media the politicians and the wider Scottish public. If we ignore it then we are doing what the rest are doing- condoning it.
you are my rogic
my only rogic
you make me happy
when skies are grey
Dembele flatters to deceive far too often for me.
Anything over £12 million for me and I’m taking it.
He is better than Cifchi but no John Hartson.
Griffiths is due a run in the side.
TT
Change of heart on Shortbread-what was headlined as a story of an ex Celtic coach all day became an ex football coach by the time the news started- wonder why?
Reporting Scotland…..NOT emphasising Celtic in particular in regard to the allegations from NI.
More circumspect than predicted.
HH
Bloody disgraceful reporting by STV what an absolute disgrace leading with a story of a man who has been abusing boys at more than 3 Clubs & probably more yet make sure Celtic is very much the story. Sick of these attacks on our Club
BMCUWP-@ 11:32am,was at that game,it was a scorching day, we were in the Stratford pub,(I think that’s it’s name)guys throwing carry outs over the wall into their beer garden.giggsy went round the full pitch after game,am sure the first scarf he got was a Celtic one,:-)))
Celtic should be making a formal complaint to the trash that is STV for the headline story only mentioning Celtic and not the other clubs that scumbag worked for…
BBC Scotland said Celtic have made a statement, nothing on the website though, maybe just a press release.
STAIRHEIDRAMMY
The BBC Complaints Department admitted that it had received “numerous” complaints about the tenor of its original reporting of the disgusting allegations. Way to go!! HH
Just an ordinary day in scotland and on cqn,
Celtic wantonly attacked by rhe media. The board say and do nothing.
Paul67 in full expecation management mode. We dont need no new players. Lets spend nowt.
Appeasement of racism abounds. Just as well mandela didnt say raciam and apartheid didnt bither him eh?
Leta sell out players and not build a team cos we will, ahem somehow reinvest it (probably in board bonuses).
Meanwhile angstamongst others on the racism and prejudice. Blind to the fact that the vast swathes of the cltic support happily took heor place at the back of the bus as the huns returned. No point in complaining when you prop it up.
Just an ordinary day in scotlamd and on cqn.
DESSYBHOY
The Club statement basically said that since matters were now subjudice it would not be possible to comment in detail, though, in passing, noted that the person against whom allegations had been made had been involved with a NUMBER of Scottish clubs. Ie a reasonable enough put-down in all the circumstances. HH
Moussa is twenty . He looked overweight and unfit when we first saw him then when he returned against sevco we saw what he is all about.
He’s had a dip in form , normal for a young guy and regularly finds two or three defenders around him.
Feel certain he will go on to be a top player, hopefully we keep for at least another season.
NEGANON2 on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 6:50 PM
Someone said you were a boy fae the Drum. Where abouts?
KTS
Stringer bell- @ 1:18pm.how do you know we will lose Celtic followers last night due to the song book
Evening champions….
All the best Moonbeams…
Am having a braw braw birthday,
Thankyou all for the congrats….
Wee Dena29….your an awfy braw lass to be thinking of others at this time,my best brawest wishes are with you and yours…
This is a braw braw wee window we have here…through it we can see many braw braw thoughts and views…
The wee picture is always the brawest…
Smiley things to all
Braw
Celtic statement:
“Yesterday the club was made aware of serious allegations by a national newspaper, which the club immediately passed to Police Scotland.
“The club understands that those allegations, which relate to a number of Scottish clubs, are under investigation by the police and it would therefore not be appropriate to comment at this time”.
KTF
RS an absolute hoot. Boyd coming across as a hysterical clown.
Spiers simply doesn’t know much about football.
Still reading back,VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821@1:18pm-a wish I could have said that as well as you did
BBC Scotland news , not a mention of Scottish team playing in the Champions League and getting a great result , rather focus on Bonnyrigg Rose beating Dumbarton , hurting hurting Huns !